There are three Open Championship places up for grabs for players not otherwise exempt, who finish in the top 10 and ties at the HNA Open de France this week.
The third Rolex Series event of the season takes place at the 2018 Ryder Cup hosting Le Golf National, which lends itself to dramatic moments, with numerous players hoping to make the field at Carnoustie in a couple of weeks.
Peter Uihlein (2), Alexander Björk (T3) and Mike Lorenzo-Vera (T3) were the three players who finished in the three qualifying places at last year’s event, with the latter pair sneaking the last two places thanks to Thorbjørn Olesen already being exempt.
It was the American Uihlein who went into the final day as joint leader, however a final round of 66 (five under par) from Fleetwood was enough to displace his American counterpart and win the event by one stroke.
There were mixed fortunes for the trio who qualified at Le Golf National last year. Uihlein (+3) performed the best and finished inside the top 50 with Lorenzo-Vella (+6) three shots further back in T62.
The Swede, Björk, was less fortunate and missed the cut by three strokes.
The first tee shot of The 147th Open will be struck on July 19th at Carnoustie, where three time Major champion Jordan Spieth defends.
The American produced one of the finest displays of golf ever seen through the final stretch of an Open Championship, producing birdies at 14, 16 and 17, as well as an eagle on the par 5 15th hole, to leave his nearest competitor – Matt Kuchar – three shots back.
There are several players in the field this week who will be looking to take advantage of the trio of exemptions including Ross Fisher, Andrew Johnston and Ian Poulter.
For Johnston, better known as “Beef,” he will be eager to make another appearance at The Open after a T27 in 2017 and a memorable 8th place in 2016 at Royal Troon.
Poulter has had a mix of results at The Open, with his best finish coming in 2013 when he finished T3, with a steady tournament last year finishing T14.
For Fisher, qualifying for The Open will mean an extra chance at gaining more Ryder Cup points and make his second appearance for Team Europe.
The last time The Open was played at Carnoustie there was great drama with Padraig Harrington defeating Sergio Garcia in a play off back in 2007.
The Spaniard bogied the final hole, which resulted in a play off with Harrington, where the Irishman would come out victorious.
It would take Garcia a further decade to become a Major champion, with an emotional victory at The 2017 Masters Tournament.
This testing links also brings back memories of Jean van de Velde stood in Barry Burn, shin deep in water, as he debated playing a shot from the water. He went on to make a clutch double bogey to fall into a three man play off that he would eventually lose to Paul Lawrie.
Known as the “toughest stretch in golf,” Carnoustie’s closing holes are sure to bring more golfing drama in 2018 as the World’s best golfers bid to become Major champions.
